Rosemary Wells Welcomes a New Bundle: Twin Trouble

When I began researching picture books back in the early 1990s, I fell in love with a book by Rosemary Wells. Shy Charles allowed us to empathize with a shy character while putting the introvert in the spotlight. I found Wells’ books to be rooted in the feelings and individual differences of young children and quickly called her one of my favorite authors. I was delighted to see that Rosemary Wells welcomed a new bundle this week!

​Twin Trouble celebrates Wells’ tried and true book characters of Max & Ruby, who have also gained recognition in a television series of their own since 2002. I’ve always likened Ruby to a motherly version of Charles Schulz’s Lucy, because she knows a lot about everything and is not afraid to let everyone know it. She leaves little room for her comically inquisitive three year old brother Max to speak, but when the timing is right, he almost always gets the last word.  The earliest books put all of the attention on Max and Ruby, with little interaction from the adults in their world. This allows the reader to leave their stories with a smile and a feeling that there is power to the youngest generation.

Twin Trouble allows a new generation to fall in love with the entire family, which now includes the adults in an underlying way. When Ruby and Max’s mom is expecting a baby, of course Ruby has a lot to teach Max. But Max is convinced that babies arrive in Taxis, and sure enough they do.  They don’t expect twins, and therefore, there is never a calm moment. With the siblings, babies included, almost always in the spotlight, the action is full of wonder. In fact, only one page allows the adults to lead the action. At one point, no one can calm the babies, but you remember who usually gets the last word, right? Twin Trouble allows us to have a delightful look at the arrival of new babies, with all the charm of opposing interplay between Max & Ruby’s varying character traits.
 
Hooray for more work by Rosemary Wells!